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These lovely people are helping me and i would love for this to carry on if it may help others.... My story.......... I have suffered from bouts of depression for many years ( well,since i was a child)Ten years back it hit me bad and i tried something stupid, it took me a good while (with help) to get over it. I get these quite a bit and Doctor not seem to be worried and even when my Niece aged 8 and my grandad died i was ok and i love them both to bits.. My problem hit me a month back and most times it gone in a day or 2 and mine just money worries.See i can,t got of sick as company i work for are real bad with that as we got so many staff(most Polish and cheap labour!) and they tend to sack people at ease and not sure my landlord would like waiting for rent.. All i asking is:- Has any of you been in same predacament as me and how do you cope,it sounds bad for me to say but i am crying now and most nights i not sleeping and when i can last weekend i slept nearly all.. Idea,s would be great please.. Love Jason.

Jason Depression is an illness and it needs to be treated. Get your doctor to prescribe some anti-depressants to help you and also arrange for some counselling. I've found both these to be beneficial when I was depressed. I get mild attacks of the 'blues' sometimes now, and I self-treat by re-arranging my thinking. ie if I think 'oh everything is going wrong, I can't cope' I change that to 'a few things are going wrong; I can cope'. There are lots of books around with useful ideas to help. The biggest problem with depression is being so down that you think nothing will help - you have to take that first step, which you've done by posting this. nell

So So Sorry to hear of your predicament Jason, firstly, depression is an illness and it's effects must never be under estimated. You must get signed off work by your GP,please do not give a second thought to your employers, you are protected by the Disabillity discrimination act which rightfully recognises depression as a disabillity. If your employers try to treat you unfairly you can take them to court.If i was you i would join a trade union to act on my behalf........Wishing you well.

Jason please do as NELL says.... life is too precious and although things seem bleak there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!! And we're here to help if you need us!! Pink xx

jason, don't be ashamed to go to the doctor and ask for help, you wont necessarily have to take time off sick. worrying about that isn't going to help either. Please come on here and talk when you feel down, there are lots of us only too happy to listen to your problems. And please don't feel ashamed at crying, it is a good release of tensions. And there is nothing unmanly about shedding tears. I hope the dark cloud lifts for you soon. Ann Glos

You sound lonely. Are you on medication? A friend of mine (also male) was and all he did was sleep and it turned into a vicious circle. Keep coming on here and taking part- Its a 'big' man that can admit he is suffereinng from depression - recognising the fact is partial recovery in its self jess x

I agree Jason, Depression is an illness and should be treated as such. Your landlord will wait until your Housing Benefit is arranged. Keep talking to us as I am sure that the interaction will help. Jim

Thankyou Helen, But my job is a driver and anti-depressants are not good for driving and work will get records from doctor if i went back(like i said they not a simpathetic company at best) but i will try other ideas..Thankyou...The more the better..Was told years back that relaxation good but not know how..J

See Jason, so many responses in such a short time, people are genuine and really do care care about how you are feeling, please keep in touch.

Hi Jason There are quite a few of us on here who have been through the same as you. At the time you're going through it, you think that you will never feel better ... but you WILL, I promise. If tablets make you sleep, then that can be a good thing. I've just had a combination of two different drugs and although I slept almost constantly in the beginning, I've now got back a near-normal sleep pattern. Sometimes it's good to continue working so that you have company, you're not alone and your mind is kept occupied. Obviously this isn't the case if your job is making you worse. You must see a doctor - if yours isn't too bothered, maybe you could ask to see a different one at the same practice. Please ask for help - and take any help you're given. And please keep coming on here where we will all help as much as we can. Love and hugs Mandy :) xx

Jason, I thought very hard about posting on here, for reasons i will explain in private, but i want you to do 2 things for me. firstly, go back to your doctors. Get him to prescribe you something like Fluoxetine. This is an anti depressant within the Prozac family, but unlike some other Anti depressants is quite quick releasing and should only take a couple of days for you to feel the benefits. some others in this group can take a couple of weeks to kick in. It is also excellent in taking the edge of your blues... l;ike taking the tears away. it is not a cure all as you may know... depression is not something we can wipe away from our bodies without a trace. your employer does not have to know you are taking Fuoxetine. Please also ask for you Gp to refer you for NHS counselling, you are entitled to it and will definately feel the benefit. As Helen has said, you have made the first step by posting on here, there are so many good people on here that will listen to you and be here for you. the most important thing is you must not feel so alone you ahve no one to turn to... you HAVE.... Secondly, you can hold down a job with depression, i know many GP's and Psychiatrists who take Anti Depressants for various reasons and still fullfill their career proffessionally and with competance. you can do the same. First thing tomorrow Jason, Phone that doctor! :))

jason,ime very sorry to hear that your feeling so depressed. firstly,your doctor 'must' listen to you,for god's sake thats why they are paid so well!...write down exactly how your feeling...write down any questions you need answering,and make another appoinment...and hand this to him/her. sounds like your money problems are makingyou overly anxious...anxiety leads to depression.....seek help from the citizens advice bureau,they will contact any debtors,and spread any payments. depression is caused by a chemical inbalance in the brain,and short term use of a/ds can help...but in some cases,this needs to be backed up by cognitive behavioural therapy. keep chatting on this board,its also quite therapeutic. best wishes....bryan.

jason firstly get to doctors tomorrow i get down in dumps , not as bad as depression can get, i know but ive been worse, as someone said try to be positive, look how much you actually are coping with not how much your not, secondly, dont tell anyone in work your looking but look for another job, my husband works 12 hour nights and he was off 2 nights last week sick, and i mean throwing up sick, he got back to work to a warning, if hed been off cos of the kids it would have been fine but cos he was off for himself they dont like it, wot makes me laugh there is im home with kids so i can take care of them, let us know how you get on chin up

Three other things to try: a) exercise - walking, running, going to a gym - this helps to stimulate hormones that cheer you up. b) relaxation - try lying down and tensing all your muscles. Then relax them all and imagine something peaceful - waves brushing gently against the shore, or clouds floating on a blue sky. Warm bath and nice aromatic candles can help. c) write down everything you feel depressed about - and then what you can do about it. Often getting things down on paper can help you put them into perspective. Then write down things that are OK in your life. This may be very difficult at the moment, but give it a go. nell

With respect Julie, and anybody else who is not aware of their employment rights. Employers are NOT allowed to discrimminate/ victimise or treat the workforce unfairly, even if it is a 2 bit company. Lawful Rights are in place to see that this does not happen, however it is often up to the individual to confront these bullies of bosses that pay the wages and quote the employment law facts to them, if they still discrimminate against you for being off sick etc then you can take them to an employment tribunal.

Jason - can l just say well done for coming on here and telling us all - you've taken the first step towards getting help. l am on anti-depressants and l can drive with no problem, my doctor knows l drive. They have helped a great deal. Do as Bryan says and get financial advice from the citizens advice bureau and KEEP TALKING, good luck:o)) jude sarf wales

jason i hav emailed u via the site i hav depresion probs too and after puting it on here i got lots of encouragement from others here take care lou x

jason, a friend ofmine runs a wonderful free website,covering all health problems,including depression....theres also a qualified psychiatric nurse on the message boards to give advice. www(.)nomorepanic(.)co(.)uk great site,and its free......take away the brackets. bryan.

I would love to thank you all for help and managed to read most without eye getting welled up...I am just so greatful and will have to wait for bit b4 Doctor as long days till Monday and company has 300,000 employees so they do get away with sackings and bits, but i will take all said and concider..All my love and regards.Jason..THankyou all..

dont worry bella, husband knows most of the rights , hes not worried to speak up for himself, in fact his words to his night shift boss were , your having a f-----g laugh arent you, hes not worried and told them next time hell chuck up over the machines, if they wish, just wanted to point out to jason hes not alone as mostly when your depressed you feel everyone else is coping and your not, but sometimes it helps to know your not alone , hope jasons got some comfort tonite and ill be looking to see how hes getting on